Minnesota’s Parent Support Outreach Program is a voluntary, early intervention program that focuses on a family’s strengths and needs, and aims to help children and parents thrive. The program is available through all Minnesota counties, and the White Earth and Leech Lake reservations. Families can refer themselves, or be referred by community or social service agencies.
Parent Support Outreach Program workers conduct comprehensive assessments of families’ needs and strengths and, together, make decisions about what services or community resources are the best choices for success. Short-term help may be available to families with concerns regarding:
- Basic needs (food, clothing and housing)
- Family health (medical care, mental and chemical health services)
- Parenting
- Transportation
- Child care
- Financial needs (budgeting and financial assistance)
The overarching goals of the Parent Support Outreach Program are to enhance the well-being of children and families, ensure and maintain safety for children, and support families so they can meet the needs of their children by themselves and through support systems. Often, referrals are made to community supports such as food shelves, free or low-cost clothing programs, free health clinics, mental health services, parenting classes and support, and child development screening services.
Participation in the Parent Support Outreach Program is voluntary. To be eligible, families must:
- Have at least one child, age 10 or younger, or be pregnant.
- Be exposed to two or more child maltreatment risk factors, including but not limited to:
- Poverty
- Domestic violence
- Alcohol and drug problems
- Mental health concerns
- History of child protection involvement
- Homelessness.
- Not currently be involved with child protection services.
To get started, please fill out the below Referral Form
